Current-controlling apparatus.



W. N. DICKINSON, JR. I CURRENT CONTROLLING APPARATUS. I I APPLICATION r1Lni 0oT;23 mos. 987,441,- Patgnted Mar.21, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ATTORNEY WITNESSES: I INVENTOR flddzwm W%M)1. I

w. N. DICKINSON, JR- GURRENT CONTROLLING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED 00T.23, 1905.

9 7,441 Patented Mar.21, 1911.

. 4 sKnnTHmnm 2.

1 i 3 y I o J E \k} I a v e WITNESSES: INVNTOR ATTORNEY w. N. DICKINSON, -JB. CURRENT CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION IILED'OO'LZS. 19Q5. 987,441

L aw 1 9+. M H 1 m m m E R m m .M E xk n WITNESSES} W. N. DICKINSON, JR. CURRENT CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

ARPLIOATIQN FILED 001223, 1905.-

Patented Mar. 21, 1911;

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM N. mcxrnson, JR, or 3ROOKLYN, new YonK, ASSIGNOR TO o'rIs ELEVATOR COMPANY, or JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION or NEW Jniasnr.

CURRENT-CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21,1911.

Application on October 23, 1905. Serial no. 283,933.

To all whom it concern:

Be it known thatI, \VILLIAM N. DIGKIN- solxyJiz, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Current-Controlling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

objectionable electrical effects due to uncer tain or intermittentcontact-s.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novel combinations of elements being pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents my invention applied to'a-n elevator system; Figs. 2 and 3 representmodifications thereof, and Figs. & to 1t) inclusive show details of various modifications of my improved alternating current controlling.

switch.

Referring to Fig. 1, the reference number 1 designates a small rotary electric motor which is preferably a sin le-phase alternating-current motor of the direct-current type and is so connected here. 2 designates the motor shaft to which are rigidly secured the lever arms 3 and 4, which carry, respectively, the insulated contacts 5, 6, 7 and 8, 9, 10. These contacts are adapted to engage,

respectively, the spring-pressed contacts 5,-

(3, T and 8, 9, 10'. Extending downwardly from the contacts 5, 6, 7 and 8, 9, 10 are stems, to the lower ends of which are secured the heads 17, 18, 19 and 20, 21,

, 22, respectively. The springs 11, 12, 13 and M, 15, 16 encircle these stems and tend to move the contacts 5, 6', '7 and 8,'9, 10' in an upward direction but this movement is limited by the heads 17, 18, 19 and 20, 21, 22 striking against the under side of the base 25. The motor 1 is herein shown secured to the upper side of the base 23 and on'both sides of the motor are co1npara lively strong sprmgs 24, which normally hold the lever arms 3 and 4.- in' a horizontal position, as shown. It Wlll now be seen that when the motor is rotated in one direct on or the other, either one set of the switches or the other will be closed and held in closed position against the action'of either spring 24: or 25. If the motor is rotated in an anticlockwise direction, the contacts 5, 6,

T, engage respectively the contacts 5, 6, 7'

and depress the latter a ainst the action of the springs 11, 12, 13. The current passing through the motor 1 being alternating'will tend to vibrate the arm 3 and therefore pro- 'duce chattering noises and infirm contacts.

at the switches, but the springs 11, 12 and 13, it sutficiently compressed, allow a small up-and-down movement or. vibration of the lever arm 3 and therefore always lteep the contacts 5, 6, 7 in firm engagement with until the'motor 1s,'de-

the contacts 5, (3, 7 energized, when the spring 24 will bring the arms 3.. 4 hack to central position.

The circuits of'an electric elevator system are shown in Fig. 1 diagrammatically complete and comprise an alternating-current motor 35, which may be either inulti-phase or single-phase. 41 designates the motor shaft which is connected to the hoisting apparatus 42 and which in turn is connected by the hoisting cable 13 over the sheaves 44 and 45 to the elevator car 46. On the shaft 11 is secured the usual brake pulley 39, with which is associated the brake 38 and a spring 40 for implying said brake. herein s own as an extension spring but in practice a compression spring would be employed. The brake-releasing means com-i prises an alternating current magnet36 and an armature 37, which is connected to the brake lever 37. \Vhenever the mainline switch 50 is closed and the motor 1 energized to move in one direct-ion or the other, circuits will be closed to the brake magnet 36 as well as to the motor 35. The brake will therefore be released and the motor started to move the hoisting drum and car as de-' sired. If the motor 1 moves the switch arm 4 to closed position the 'motors' circuits may be traced as follows:' One circuit starts from the main 51 and passes through the switch This spring is 90 and thence by wire leads to contacts 8, 8, wire 26, wire 29 and wire 32 to motor terminal 32. Another circuit extends from main 52 through the switch 50 and by way of wire 57 to and through contacts 9, 9, wires 27, 30 and 33 to motor terminal 33. The third phase circuit extends from main 53 to switch 50 and by way of wires58 and 59 to and through contacts 10, 10, wires 28. 31 and 34 to terminal 3&. If the motor 1 moves the switch arm 3 to closed position, the phases from mains 51 and 53 will he reversed between the motor terminals 3 and Means for controlling the direction of movement of the motor 1 111 this instance comwhich, when moved on to the contacts 73, 62, will close a single phase circuit through the auxiliary motor 1, which may be traced as follows: From main 53 to and through switch 50. wire 61, lever 49 of switch 47 to contact 62, wire 63, arc-shaped contact-strip 64 which is mounted on an insulating-plate 42, preferably of slate and mounted in fixed position adjacent the hoisting drum: from contact-strip 64 the circuit continues through wiper 65 which is connected to the left-hand end of the arm 65 which is suitably con nected by the usual stop-motion mechanism to the hoisting-drum shaft; the wiper 65 being in contact with both the strips 64 and 66 the circuit extends further by wire 67 to the hatch limit switch 68 and thence through wires 69 and 70 to the armature 71 of the motor 1; from the motor-armature 71 the circuit continues by-wire 72 to the contact 73, lever 48 of switch 47, wire 74 to the field -of motor 1 and thence through wire 75,

slack-cable switch 76, wire 77, to another main, in this instance 52. If the switch 47 had been moved in the opposite direction, that is, onto the contacts 86 and 73, the circuit through the motor would be reversed and the reversing switch 60 would be operated to start the motor 35 in the opposite direction to what it operated before. The circuit in this case would be from main 53 to and through wire 61, lever 49, contact 73, wire 72, armature 71 in reverse direction, wires 70, 79, limit switch 80, wire 81,

, contact-strip 82, wiper 83, contact-strip 84.

wire 85, contact 86, lever 48. wire 74, through the field'of motor 1 in the same direction as before, wire 7 5, slack cable switch 7 6. wire 77, to the main 52.

Fig. 2 shows a modification of the reversing switch in that the motor 1 is pivotally mounted at 87' at some point which may be above the elevator machine. In this case the field is movable in one direction and the armature in the opposite direction, the one the action ofthe centering springs 24, 25, which, as in Fig. 1, are laced between said arms 3 and 4 and the Xed base 23. At a suitable point on the motor armature or to the armature shaft is secured a flexible strap 88, which is connected to the brake lever 37 and operates to release the brake whenever either switch arm 3 or a is moved to circuit-closing position. Further details illustrated in Fig. 2 are the worm and wormwhccl 89, the latter being secured to .the hoisting-drum shaft 91. The strap 88 being connected to the armature or its shaft 32 thus reversing the hoisting motor f 1 when the parts are in the position shown, the strap 88 will always be drawn upward prises a double pole switch 47 in the car. 5

at a point below the axis of the armature.

to release the brake when the armature is rotated. The motor brake and hoisting drum are shown mounted on a bed-plate 93. the support for the hoisting drum being designated by the reference number 92. l uasmuch as the field frame is movable in one direction and the armature in the opposite direction, the one forming the purchase for the other, the switch arms and the brake strap 88 may be interchanged if desired nected to the armature or armature shaft to wind thereon as shown in Fig. 2. or the strap 88 may be connected to the frame 1 and the arms 3 and i to the armature shaft. In any event it should be noted that a single torque action produces an economical operation in effecting the release of the brake apparatus against the action of the spring 40 and the closing of one portion of the reversing switch against the action of the spring24 or spring 25. The torque action which in Fig. 1 is taken up by the fixed motor frame, is utilized in Figs. 2 and 3 to release the brake without requiring any greater power in the pilot motor; The principle involved is that of reaction in the contrary direction which is takenadvantage of in producing an economical result.

Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 2 with the addition of means for gradually increasing the speed of a two-phase induction motor. these means comprising sectional resistances 102 and 103 connected to contacts 100 and 101 respectively. Over these contacts are adapted to move the bridging pieces 99, 99 to gradually cut out said resistances as the moforming a purchase for the other. The lever tor 1-is rotated in one direction or the other, arms 3 and 4 are secured rigidly to tlfe l the lever 95, which isipi'voted'at 96, will be 65 motor frame and movable therewith against moved by the rod or flexible strap 88, said and 11 1 respectively to rod being connected at, 94 to said, lever 95. This operation will release the weight 97 which is normally held in its uppermost position by the spring 10, acting through the rod 98 and lever 95. When the weight97 and consequently the bridging pieces 99 and 99 are thus released, the latter will slowly descend, being retarded by the dash-pot 100, to gradually cut out the starting resistances 102 and 103, which are connected to the slip rings 10 1 of the rotor of the motor 35.

In Fig. 1 I have illustrated a pinion 105,

secured to the motor shaft 2 and'a segment gear 106 meshing with said pinion. This gear is rigidly secured to the lever 107, which is pivoted to the base 23 at 108' and comprises the arms 3, 4t

and 2-5 are the centering springs. The stems for the spring pressed contacts are shown are-shaped to correspond with the movement of the cntacts on the arms 3, 1.

In Fig. I have shown two arms, 110 and lllyindependcntly pivoted to the base 28' and normally held against the stops 113 the spring 112. Secured to the motor shat is the arm 109, to which is fastened at bLI'Cip or rope 11?, to the lower 0:. which is attached a weight 121. .en the motor energised to move the same i a clockwise direction the contacts 8, 9, and 13 will engage the contacts 3, 9, respecti ely on the arm 111 and more said arm against the 116. If the or r is moved in the oppc direction contacts 5, "3 will engage the contacts 5, 3, Y e y and move the arm 110 against the stop 115. The weight 121 always has a vertical movement by reason of the engagement of the rope 117 with the antifriction rollers 112 or 120, which are mounted on the upper end of an extension 122 of" the fixed base 23. When the motor is deenergized the Weight will to return the spring 112 acts to keep the contacts in firm arm 10%. Asin Fig. 5, when the motor 1' is energized the arm 109 is moved in one direction or the other to move the arm 110 or111 against the stop 115 M116, respectively.

It should be noted that when the construction shown in Fi 5 01' Fig." 11 is used the engagement as well as to preventchattering as any vibration due to they variation in the strength of the motor having the shaft 2 or 2, is taken up by said spring. 7

In Fig. 6 are shown two contact-carrying levers 128 and 129 normally held against the stops 140 and 141 respectively by the spring 112. These levers are pivoted to the fixed base 23" at 130and 131. Between the levers is placed a cam 127 of peculiar shape and secured at its upper ortion to the shaft 2 of the motor. To the ower portion of this cam is pivoted at 139 the rod-138, which carries at its lower end plate 143. Between this plate and the base 23",is a spring 142 for returning the cam 127 to normal or central position as shown; When the auxiliary inotor 1 is energized to rotate the shaft land therefore move the cam 127 against the action of the spring 1 12, the lever 128 01 129 will be moved against the action of the spring 112 so that the contacts carried by said levers will engage the contacts carried by the lever 132 or 133. The cam 127 is so designed that the levers 132 and 133 shall be moved against the stops 115 and 116 respectively against'the action of the springs 136 and 137, p which normally maintain said levers 132and 133 against the stops 113 and 114. A V-sha Jed recess is placed in the base 23 to al ow free movement of the rod 138. It should be noted that when either the left-hand or right-hand switch is closed, not only dothe springs'136 and 13'? maintain the contacts in firm engagement even though there be some vibration of the shaft Or the auxiliar alternating current motor but the cam also allows of a limited movement or" said shaft without producing movement of the levers 128 or 129. This is accom plished by having the lower portion or face of the cam 127 flattened as shown.

In Fig. 7 1 have shown a. disk 1-17 secured to the auxilialy motor shaft 2 and provided near its periphery at the opposite side from said shaft with the laterally projecting pin 1 18 which is adapted to engage in a slot 14:9 at the upper end of the arm This arm is pivoted at 151 and rigidly secured to the contact-carrying arms 3 and which, as in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, are normally circuit-opening position by the springs 21 and 25. 23 designates afiXe-d base carrying the spring pressed contacts which cooperate with the: contacts carried by the lever arms 3 and 4.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a cam 152 secured to the motor 2 and adapted to oscillate the arms 3 and 1 about the fixed pivot 151; when said'cam is moved in one direction or the other, the cam 152 acts against the antifrict-ion rollers 153 and 154 which are mounted in the upper ends of the supports 155 and 156, respectively-which are secured to the arms 3 and 4. As before springs 2-1 and 25 are employed for centering the arms 3 and. 1 when the auxiliary motor is deenergized.

In Fig. 9 an eccentric disk 157 is secured maintained in 1 to the auxiliary motor shaft 2 and operates to move the switch arms 3 or 4 to circuitevident that with this arrangement a large 158 and the eccentric rod 159, the latter ing pivoted at 160 to the arm 4; it is obvious that if the shaft 2 is 'moved through an arc of about 90 degrees the shaft 2 may have a certain oscillatory vibrationdue to the alternating current operating the auxiliary motor without injuriously affecting the firm engagement of the circuit closing contacts.

In FigJlO the switch arms 3 and 4, carryin'g the contacts 5, 6, 7, and 8, 9, 10, respectively. are rigidly secured to the motor shaft 2. The said contacts are adapted to be moved by the auxiliary motor into contact with the arc-shaped conducting strips 165, 166 and 167 which are mounted on the disk 161 of insulating material, preferably slate. To the central portion of the doublearmed lever 3, 4 is secured the extension 162 which is pivoted at 163 to the upper end of the rod 138. This rod may be fastened to either the plate 164 or 143' the other plate then being pivoted as at 43 to the base plate 161 and allowing free movement of the rod 138". The spring may therefore be either a compression or an extension spring. lVhen the-auxiliary motor moves the shaft 2 in one direction or the other either the contacts 5, 6, 7 or the contacts 10, 98, 8 will engage, respectively, with the conducting strips 165, 166 and 167. It is degree of oscillatory vibration of the motor shaft 2 is allowed without disconnecting the contacts and strips. \Vhen the auxiliary motor is deenergized the spring 142' acts to return the arms 3 and 4 to central. or normal position, as shown. If desired the conducting strips 165, 166 and 167 may be disconnected atsome point near the upper central portion of the disk so that therema'y be two sets of conducting strips insulated from each other and corresponding respectively with the contacts 5, 6, 7', and 8', 9', 10 shown in Fig. 1. Furthermore, it may be preferable in some instances to have the contacts 5, 6, 7,' and 8, 9, 10 spring pressed when the construction shown in Fig. 10 is employed.

the upper arms of the V-shaped levers 170 and 171 with the contact-carrying arms 3" and. 4", respectively, and hold said arms against the fixed stops 178 and 179. With this arrangement, if the auxiliary motor is energized to movethe disk 168 a little over 90 degrees in one direction or the other, eitherthe lever 170 or 171 will be moved to its lowermost positi0n,in which case the spring 172 or 173 will pass below the pivotal points 174 or 175 and therefore act to move and hold the switch 3" or 4" in its lowermost of contact-engaging position. It should be noted that with this arrangement, furthermore, a spring 172 acts to hold the contacts in an engaging position independently of the motor; the contacts are therefore held in positive engagement with each other and all chattering and liability of infirm contacts are avoided. \Vhen the motor,

is de'c nergized and returned to central position by a weight or spring as shown for example in Fig. 5 or 6, the pin 169 strikes the upper arm of the lever 170 or 171 and moves the spring 172 or 173 and consequently the arm 3" or 4 back to its original position.

In Fig. 13 an arm 180 carrying a pin 181 at its upper end is secured to the motor shaft 2 so that when the motor is operated in one direction or the other the pin 181 will strike against the arm 182 or 183 and throw the same to circuit-closing position against the inclined fixed contact-carrying support 184 or 185; in this case the contacts are held in engagement by gravity. Upon the return of the arm 180 to central position the pin 181 will strike against the arm 186 or 187 to return the lever 182 or 183 to its normal position-a ainst the stop 243 or 244 where it is also eld by gravity. Theflevers 182 and 183 are respectively pivoted at 188 or 189 to the fixed base 23, to which are also other positively and independently of any vibrations of the motor shaft.

Fig. 14 illustrates a further modification in which a double-arm lever 190 may move the vertical contact carriers 191 or 192 to circuit-closing position by the engagement of the contact 195 with fixed contacts 194 and 1945. With this arrangement a certain vibration of the motor shaft is allowed without interrupting the circuits through the circuit closers, in that the fixed contacts 194 and 194' have an extended vertical portion up and down which the contact 195 ma move without interfering in any way wit the continuity of the circuits therethrough.

In Fig. 15 the construction shown consists ofa pinion 196 fixed to the motor shaft 2 and engaging two racks 197 and 198, to which are secured the contact-carryin rods 201 and 202, res ctively. The ra are held in mesh wit the pinion bythe antifriction rollers 199 and 200 and the rod 201 is limited to a strai ht line movement by the anti-friction rol ers 211 and 212. To the lower-side of the rod 202, preferably below thesprin'g pressed contacts 208, is suitably mounted an anti-friction roller 207,

206 in the fixed support 203. When the auxiliary .motor .is operated in one direction the-upper rod201 is-moved to the .right and the'lower-rod 202 to the left-until the roller 207 rides up on thefiat portion 204 of the support 203 and brings the spring-pressedthe roller 207 rides up on the flat portion 205-of the support 203 and brings the con tacts 208 into engagement with the contacts 210. Here, it shouldbe noted that as long .astheroller 207 ison-either of the fiat portions 20 1 or .205 and the switches in the circuit-closing position a certain-amount of longitudinal vibration of the rods 201 and 202 .mayheper'mitted without effecting even the slightest disengagement of the circuitclosing contacts with each other. i

Fig. '16 illustrates amodification of Fig. 6; only two movable levers are, however, employed, namely, those designated, 128' and 129, pivoted respectively to the fixed case 146 at 130 and 131 and held against the cam 12? by means of the spring 112 at the upper ends-ofsaid levers. The cam 127 is provided with a flattened face 2&5 on its 11; b er side so that when the shaft 2is-moved the action of the spring 142, either 128' or 129 is brought to circuit closing position. It should be noted, however, that one face of the cam 127 is concentric and the flat face 245 is at such a distance froni the shaft 2 that when the latter is rotated through an arc to about 90 degrees either the arm 128 or 129' is released so that the contacts carried thereby will be brought into engagement with the fixed contacts on the support 145 through the action of the spring 1125. The contacts carried by the arm 128 or 129 engage the fixed contacts a short time before the shaft 2 has made its complete movement so that in its limiting position the cam 127 will have its flat face 245 substantially parallel with the lever 128 or 129 which is in circuit-closing position but out of contact therewith. This construction of course allows of a certain vibration of the motor shaft; the extent of which may be varied as desired by varying the dimensions and arrangement of the cam and levers with respect to ,the fixed contacts 'on the support 1 15.

In Fig. 17 I have shown three arms, 213, 214 and 215 rigidly secured to each other, thus forming a'spider, and secured tothe auxiliary motor shaft 2. To the outer ends of these arms are connected at 217 the springs 216, which are limited in their movements by stops 218 and 219 and which carry at their extreme outer ends the contacts 220.

When the motor is operated in one direction,

the contacts 220' engage the fixed contacts .221 and whenoperated in the other direction the contacts220 engage .the Ifixed contacts 222. A certainamountof vibration of the motorshaft islhere also allowed by the springs 216.

In Fig. 18 the springs=24 and-25 normally maintain -the arms 3 and in-ahorizontal position and consequently the contacts 7225, 226, .227 .and the eontacts 228, .229, 230 out mf-contact -withthe.mercury 237 in the mercury cups 231, 232, 233 and .234, 235, 236 respectively, which are fastened .to the fixed support .23. When, however, the motor shaft 2 I and the: arm 224 which is secured 'to the same are moved inane-direction or the a other .the laterally projecting pin: 223 .on the mm 224 Will engage -eithcr the switcherm 3 or the switch arm 4 and move the latter to circuitclosing position. It will he noticed. that the-contacts 225, 226,122? :and the contacts 228, 229, .230zare .made comparatively long so that when dipped into .the -mercury cups of corresponding .depth considerable vibration of the shaft 2 .ismllowed without in any way'interfering withthe continuity of the circuits adapted to be controlled by this improved switch. 1

in Fig. s19,a spidercomprising the arms 2,135,214 and 215 is secured to the shaft 2, said-arms carrying at their extreme ends the contacts 238, 239 and 240 respectively. The last named contacts are adapted to ride over and be brought into engagement with the arc-shaped strips 242 when the motor is moved. in one direction and with the arcshaped strips 241 when 'the motor is moved in the other direction. Obviously, the lengths of the arc-shaped strips may he varied as desired depending upon the degree of oscillatory vibrations of the motor shaft which tend to disconnect the circuit-closing contacts. The contacts 238, 239 and 240 may be spring-pressed if desired. It is evident that with the arrangement shown in Fig. 19

the circuit closing contacts and strips are in sliding engagement with each other and a \large amount of vibration may be allowed without in any way interfering with the efficiency of the apparatus.

It should be understood that either alternating current circuits or direct'current circuits may be controlled iby means of my improved circuit closing apparatus which is operated by an alternating current rotary motor and that the arrangement of circuits shown in Fig. 1 illustrates merely one adaptation of my invention.

Although I have shown and described herein a single-phase alternating current motor of the, direct current type, I do not wish to be limited thereto, as other kinds of alternating current motors can be used if desired. p e

Other modifications in the details of my invention and the arrangement of its parts may obviously be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Having thus described my invention what I desire to have protected by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. The combination with an electric motor, of reversing switches therefor, a pilot motor, a fixed support to which the pilot motor is pivoted, switch arms secured to a part of said pilot motor, and a fixed base car ing one set of contacts of each reversing switch.

2. The combination with a motor, of brake apparatus therefor, an additional motor, a. switch connected to a moving part of said additional motor, and a connection between said brake apparatus and another moving part of said additional motor.

3. The combination with a motor, of brake apparatus therefor, a secondary motor, an electric switch connected to one of the rotating parts of said secondary motor, and a flexible strap connected between the other rotating part of said secondary motor and the brake apparatus.

4. The combination with an electric motor, of reversing switches therefor, an alternate ing current pilot motor, a. fixed support towhich the pilot motor is pivoted, switch arms secured to a part of the pilot motor and carrying the movable contacts of the reversing switch, a fixed base carrying the stationary contacts and yielding means for taking up vibrations at said contacts due to current alternations.

5. The combination with a mainv motor, of brake apparatus therefor, a pilot motor, a reversing switch for the main motor connected to a moving part of the pilot motor and a mechanical connection between said brake apparatus and another moving part of the pilot motor.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM N. DICKINSON, JR. Witnesses:

RAYMOND W. Cmanmas,

CHARLns M. Nissan. 

